The Great Wall Effect!

Judiene Hyatt Start Date: Jun 14, 2017 - End Date: Oct 13, 2017
  • Beijing, China

My Travel Story

by: Judiene Hyatt Start Date: Jun 14, 2017 - End Date: Oct 13, 2017
Hello! I would really appreciate if you would support me as I travel to China. These are my reasons for wanting to go:

Education and Career:
  • I will gain exposure to a different culture
  • I will receive language lessons that will help to improve my Chinese.
  • With my improved Chinese I can apply for entry into the Beijing University of Culture and Language where I hope to gain a degree in Chinese and European Studies.
  • I would then pursue my master's degree in International Business Law. My exposure to different cultures would increase my access to various internships and workshops in my field.
Impact on My Country:
Here in Jamaica, information about homestays or culture immersion is not as readily available to us as in other countries. For the few of us that do receive any opportunites to embark on such an adventure finding the resources to finance the trip is quite difficult. I would like the opportunity to establish connections and networks between my home country and my host country so that it will be easier for my fellow citizens to access these opportunities with as much financial aid as possible.

Purpose Behind My Passion
I love diversity! I love that even though we only have one earth, it is filled with so many different cultures and languages. I want to experience as many as I can firsthand as I believe experiencing new cultures is very much like experiencing new perspectives. I believe that learning about and appreciating these perspectives contributes to self development and dictates how we approach and interact with our environment. 

Why China?
In my first year in university here in Jamaica, the program I studied IInternational Relations) made it mandatory for us to study a foreign language. To be honest, the only reason I chose to learn Chines was that I was already used to studying Spanish and French from high school.
However as soon as I started to learn the language it was all over; I fell in love. My teacher was from China and she told us all about the lovely country. It was right there that I decided that I had to see it for myself. I want to stand on the same ground as the ancient Chinese warriors had and make my own journey across the Great Wall of China. I didn't want to hear about it anymore. I want to see it. After my months of extensive research into the homestay program I decided to sign up with , I discovered the Beijing University of Culture and Languages and realised that the programmes they offered suited my passion quite well.

It's Important to Me
I haven't really been anywhere. Most of my adventures happen in my mind through the many books I read and the research I undertake. This is why I really want to take this first step into an adventure of a lifetime. 
I want to experience the highs and lows of this society jus how I've experienced those of my own. I've decided to do it through the homestay programme because I want to develop deep relations in China with people that I can one day call my family.
  • Beijing, China